October 14, 2016

Highlighted Year: Daunte Culpepper, 2000

Quarterback, Minnesota
Vikings

Age: 23

2nd
season in pro football & with Vikings

College: Central
Florida

Height: 6’4”Weight: 250

Prelude:

Culpepper had
an outstanding collegiate career, capped by completing 73.6 percent of his passes
for 3690 yards and 28 touchdowns while averaging 9.2 yards-per-attempt as a
senior in 1998. He also rushed for 463 yards and 12 TDs and was chosen by the
Vikings in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft (11th overall).
Culpepper saw no action as a rookie, but with the departure of veterans Jeff
George and Randall Cunningham after the season, he moved into the starting
lineup in 2000.

Vikings went 11-5
to finish first in the NFC Central. Won NFC Divisional playoff over New Orleans
Saints (34-16). Lost NFC Championship to New York Giants (41-0).

Aftermath:

Culpepper had
a lesser season in 2001, missing the last five games of the year due to injury
and drawing criticism for lack of preparation. He came back to throw for 3853
yards and 18 touchdowns in 2002, but also led the league with 23 interceptions,
although his 609 rushing yards and 10 TDs were career highs. Culpepper improved
in 2003, passing for 3479 yards and 25 TDs with just 11 interceptions, and in
2004 led the NFL with 379 completions and 4717 yards while tossing 39 TD passes
and accumulating a 110.9 passer rating. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after
both seasons and was a first-team All-NFC choice by Pro Football Weekly in ’04.
But after achieving that peak, Culpepper had a poor season in 2005 before going
down with a knee injury and, with a coaching change taking place, he was traded
to Miami, where he started four games and was hampered by limited mobility before
having to undergo a second knee operation. Culpepper had stints with Oakland
and Detroit over the remaining three seasons of his NFL career, never appearing
in more than seven games and with reduced production. He finished up with the Sacramento
Mountain Lions of the United Football League in 2010, where he passed for 1910
yards and 10 touchdowns in his final pro season. Overall in the NFL, Culpepper
threw for 24,153 yards and 149 TDs, and also rushed for 2652 yards and 34
touchdowns. He twice received first-team All-NFC recognition and was selected
to three Pro Bowls.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories: